A 24-year-old Cheltenham man who terrorised two families, one Muslim and the other Polish, with racial abuse and threats was jailed for a year today.

Ryan Gobey, of Nailsworth Terrace, made death threats to his Polish neighbours and used a knife to threaten a Muslim woman and her family in a row over parking near his home.

The case had been heard in full at an earlier hearing but was adjourned for investigations into Gobey's claim that the Polish family had been trouble themselves and had been evicted for not paying the rent.

But today at Gloucester Crown Court prosecutor Janine Wood produced a statement from the landlord refuting that suggestion and saying the family had been good tenants.

The court heard that Gobey's behaviour towards the family had caused a marked change in their young son, who used to be a happy and healthy child but has now become awkward and uncommunicative.

He also admitted racially aggravated harassment of Albert Goleiewski between December 31 last year and January 10.

In early January Gobey was living in Carter Road, Cheltenham, with his partner. The Goleiewski family lived in the maisonette above.

In late December Gobey's partner knocked on the Goleiewski's front door complaining about noise from their flat. Mr Goleiewski said he would make an effort to be quieter but with a one year old son it was not easy.

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In a victim impact statement Mr Goleiewski said he and his family had been left feeling 'very upset' by Gobey's behavjour and had been forced to move out of their home.

"We still live in constant fear," he stated. "The fear is that he will find us and hurt us as he has made threats towards us, stating he will kill us.

"I believe our son has been hugely affected by this incident. We are shocked at what has happened."

Mrs Wood said that on May 3 Mrs Sadika Osmani and her family, who had lived in Cheltenham for 20 years without suffering any racial problems, were confronted by Gobey telling them to move their 'f***ing car'.

He told them if they did not move it 'I will burn your car and I will burn your house'.

Gobey also used vile racist language towards Mrs Osmani and tried to grab her but walked away when her husband appeared.

However, Gobey then returned with a knife in his hand and confronted a group of men including her brother saying he was going to stab them. He was saying 'I will f***ing kill you'.

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Mrs Osmani stated: "I do believe that he would carry out this threat. I am very scared for my safety, my children's safety and my husband's safety. I am worried if he comes up behind me when I am on my own or tries to get into my house.

"I am worried for my children playing outside. We are a Muslim family who have worked hard and lived peacefully. We have never had any issues of any kind before and this is the first time anything like this has happened to us."

Mrs Wood said that when interviewed by police Gobey said he remembered some of what had happened but he had been suffering from 'some kind of episode or blackout.'

He accepted it was him in the video shot by Mrs Osmani and said he was 'ashamed.'

Gobey has a criminal record including a conviction for battery in 2011 and others for burglary and vandalism.